Family, friends and racers remember Hadley

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By Andy Barrand

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Andy Barrand

Posted Jul. 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM

By Andy Barrand
Posted Jul. 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

abarrand@hillsdale.net

QUINCY — As the racing action ended at Butler Motor Speedway Saturday night friends of family of Josh Hadley took the time to remember him with the releasing of two Chinese lanterns and a moment of silence.

Hadley whose family still races at the speedway was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a child and passed away several years ago.

Every year the speedway honors Hadley with the running of the Josh Hadley Memorial for its four regular classes of cars.

To go along with the event the speedway gives away bicycles and other prizes to children in attendance. This year’s giveaway featured 30-40 bikes and scooters and a wide variety of other prizes.

All of the items were donated by area businesses and local race teams.

“We know he would of enjoyed watching all the children ride new bikes away, because he never could,” she said. “He loved racing.”

Saturday night was also Old Timers night at the speedway. Vintage race car enthusiasts displayed some 20 different race cars from years pasts. Everything from vintage coupes to open cockpit sprint cars.

The racing action was capped off with what might of been the two most competitive races of the night. The Sprint car feature and Modified feature saw tight racing action.

The Modified feature saw 13 cars take the green flag with James Hadley and Steve Shellenberger on the front row. At the drop of the green flag Shellenberger took the lead and led until the midway part of the race when the caution flag flew. On the restart Terry Sroufe, Josh Lolmaugh and Jake Rendel all got around Shellenberger.

Rendel and Sroufe battle in the closing laps and Rendel came out on top as he passed Sroufe going into turn one for the win.

Modified heat race wins went to Lolmaugh and Nick Kurtz. With the win Rendel holds onto the points lead over Lolmaugh.

Max Stambaugh led the field from the drop of the green flag in the Sprint Car feature. He led until the midway part of the race when Brad Lamberson worked his way into second place and past Stambaugh.

The two battled several laps and Stambaugh retook the lead while the two worked their way through the back of the pack. Doug Zimmerman took the lead after Stambaugh drove over the back tire of a lapped car bringing the front tires off the ground. Mechanical issues got the best of Stambaugh as he fell to 18th.

Zimmerman won the race followed by Lamberson, Jarod Delong, Trey Smith and Jess Steiger. Heat race wins went to Marques Huffer, Lamberson and Zimmerman.

Page 2 of 2 - In the Sportsman feature points leader Scott Gaff led from the drop of the green flag and wasn’t challenged. Thirteen cars started the race. He was followed by Jake Rendel, Steve Langdon, Fred VanEvey and Dwayne Feltner.

Heat race wins went to Gaff and Tim Wilber.

Street Stock points leader Chris Garrett took the Street Stock feature. He was followed by Jeff Hinkley Jr., Shawn McFeeters, Terry Milliman and Don Hopkins. Garrett and Hinkley battled closely for the first part of the race, but on every restart Garrett pulled away from the field.

Heat race wins went to Hinkley and Zach Hiser.

Next up at the speedway is Fan Appreciation Night featuring Sprints, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks and the Hawkeye Superbikes Mini Sprints. Gates open at 2 p.m. with races beginning at 7:30 p.m.